In this episode of Your Spanish Journey, I'll talk about the difference between PRETÉRITO IMPERFECTO and PRETÉRITO INDEFINIDO and I'll give you some practical examples to help you use them correctly. 

Your Spanish Journey

Pretérito imperfecto y pretérito indefinido- ¿Cuál debemos usar?

Formas IMPERFECTAS
I was - yo era
You were - tú eras 
She was, he was - Ella era, él era
We were - nosotros éramos
You were - ustedes eran
They were - ellos eran

(Examples in the same order with English then Spanish)

I was tall, short, thin - yo era alto, bajo, delgado.
You are  Costa Rican, a man, a woman - tú eras costarricense, un hombre, una mujer
She was from Costa Rica, he was from Chicago - Ella era de Costa Rica
We were friends, we were family, we were cousins - nosotros éramos amigos, éramos familia, éramos primos
You were colleagues, you were partners  - ustedes eran colegas, eran socios
They were lawyers, they were students, they’re  - ellos eran abogados

***Special note for “it”***

It was late, early,  - era tarde, era temprano
It was an example - era un ejemplo
It was a good day - era un buen día
It was a class - era una clase
It was a student - (él, Ella) era una estudiante
It was my brother - (él) era mi hermano
It was a gift for you - era un regalo para ti
it was a good friend - era un buen amigo
It was last night - era ayer en la noche
it was yesterday morning- era ayer por la mañana
It was yesterday afternoon - era ayer por la tarde


conjuguemos y conjugamos 

CAPÍTULO 13 - ERA - I WAS

I am tall, short, thin - yo soy un alto, bajo, delgado.
You are  Costa Rican, a man, a woman - tú eres costarricense, un hombre, una mujer
She is from Costa Rica, he is from Chicago - Ella es de Costa Rica
We are friends, we are family, we’re cousins - nosotros somos amigos, somos familia, somos primos
You are colleagues, you’re partners  - ustedes son colegas, son socios
They are lawyers, they’re students, they’re  - ellos son abogados

***Special note for “it”***

It is late, early,  - es tarde, es temprano
It is an example - es un ejemplo
It is a good day - es un buen día
It is a class - es una clase
It’s a student - (él, Ella) es una estudiante
It’s my brother - (él) es mi hermano
It’s a gift for you - es un regalo para ti
it’s a good friend - es un buen amigo
It’s tomorrow night - es mañana por la noche
it’s tomorrow morning - es mañana por la mañana
It’s tomorrow afternoon - es mañana por la tarde



CAPÍTULO 12 - SOY - I AM 

I have done my job - yo he hecho mi trabajo
You have done your shopping- tú has hecho las compras
She has done her best- Ella ha hecho su mejor esfuerzo
We have done what’s necessary- nosotros hemos hecho lo necesario
You have done something- ustedes han hecho algo
They have done this and that- ellos han hecho esto y aquello

CAPÍTULO 11 - HE HECHO - I HAVE DONE

Yo haría
tú harías
Ella-él haría
nosotros haríamos
ustedes harían
ellos harían

CAPÍTULO 10 - HARÍA - I WOULD DO

Capítulo 9 - HARÉ - I WILL DO

Pretérito de HACER. 

Yo hice este episodio
tú hiciste
Ella hizo, él hizo
nosotros hicimos
ustedes hicieron
ellos hicieron


Capítulo 8 HICE - I DID

Formas imperfectas de HACER. 

I was doing this: Yo hacía esto